Drywall vs Sheetrock

It doesn’t matter if you are already a seasoned contractor who simply wants to satisfy your curiosity, or you are a newcomer to the world of renovations. There is a very high chance that you are not that familiar about the differences of drywall and sheetrock. Comparing the two materials is just like comparing generic facial tissues and Kleenex. Basically, the first one is a generic brand while the other is a name brand. To eliminate your confusion, here is more comprehensive explanation on the differences of drywall and sheetrock.

What is Drywall?

Drywall is among the most popular materials being used in home construction to create flat walls as well as other important surfaces. A single of drywall includes gypsum. This is a form of rock transformed into powder and placed in between two pieces of extremely thick paper. Once you are prepared to install your drywall, you have to use nails or screws to attach this to the room’s studs and fill the seams in between the drywall pieces using joint compound. Compared to the conventional methods like plaster, it is easier to install drywall, not to mention that drywall repair is also a breeze.  

What is Sheetrock?

When you speak of sheetrock, this one is a brand name for drywall, just like Kleenex. This brand is composed of several drywall pieces that are available in various thicknesses. The Sheetrock product lineup also includes some specialty products like fire resistant panels or walls that can help in preventing moisture buildup.

Having said this, Sheetrock mainly deals with drywall yet gives customers a chance to buy specialized panels which depends on their specific needs. Homeowners and contractors can also buy drywall tools with Sheetrock name as the brand.

What are the differences between Drywall and Sheetrock?

As mentioned earlier, Sheetrock and drywall have some limited differences. Sheetrock is only a company that offers an opportunity for customers to buy drywall and other drywall products. However, their products are just the same as the generic drywall. Going back to the analogy of generic brand versus Kleenex, Sheetrock is the name brand just like Kleenex while drywall is only the same product but this time, no brand name is associated to it.

Most drywall contractors find it more advantages to buy products from Sheetrock while there are those who prefer to just stick with using the generic brand drywall. Buyers usually mix up these two terms most of the time. But, practically speaking, the two are just the same thing.

But, did you know that Sheetrock is not the sole term that is usually confused and interchanged with drywall? One more term is stucco, which is a type of exterior siding product. This means that it is not even close to drywall at all.

Now that you know the differences between Sheetrock and drywall, hopefully, you will no longer be confused. Just remember that drywall is the generic term while Sheetrock is a brand name for drywall and drywall products.